Multiple disk shaft coupling



April 25, 1944. s. T. sMl'rH 2,347,294

MULTIPLE DISK SHAFT COUPLING April 25, 1944. s. T. sMlTl-l MULTIPLE DISKSHAFT COUPLING Filed May 4, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheetl 2 April 25, 1944. s.T. SMITH MULTIPLE DISK SHAFT COUPLING Filed May 4, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.4 INVENTOR.

BY Wj mR/YEY April 25, 1944. s. T. SMITH 2,347,294

MULTIPLE DISK ySHAFT COUPLING Filed May 4, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MTM BY l

W /QrraH/vfy April 25, 1944. s. T. SMITH 2,347,294

MULTIPLE DISK SHAFT COUPLING April 25, 1944. s; T, SMITH 2,347,294

MULTIPLE DISK SHAFT COUPLING Filed May 4, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7INVENTOR.

Patente'cl 'Api'. 25, 1944 FFICE iaims.

This invention relates to an improvement in my former locking device asdescribed in Patent No. 2,028,629, dated Jan. 21, 1936, adapting lockingdisks within an automatic shaft coupling unit.

The object of my invention is to provide a driving shaft couplingdesigned for free wheeling of one section, in one direction when anexcessive rotating force is applied through the driven sectional unit.

Another object is to produce a multiple disk shaft coupling capable oflocking abutting shaft sections together when rotations are caused b'ypower applied through the driving unit, but will automatically releaseand allow free wheeling when the rotating force is excessive in the samedirection within the driven section unit.

A further object is to provide a shaft coupling, simple in construction,easily and efliciently applied to any line shafting and that can bemanufactured at a very'low cost.

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by theconstruction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals or letters.

Fig. l is an elevation of the assembled coupling showing the generalhousing arrangement.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the multiple shaft coupling taken on the line2-2 of the Fig. 1, showing the housing formation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, except for the central shaft sections, takenon the line 3-3 of the Fig. 2, showing the general arrangement of theoperating parts.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the coupling taken on the line-li' of the Fig. 3, showing the relative position of the operating lugsand connected lock disks as mounted within the housing chamber.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate details of the driving shaft lugs.

Figs. '7 and 8 show typical lock disks applicable to the coupling unit.

Fig. 9 is a modified sectional view similar to the Fig. 3, as taken onthe line 3 3 of the Fig. 2, illustrating a modification of multipleunits, showing the arrangement for three locking disks instead of twopreviously described.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line ID--lll of the Fig.9, showing the formation and relative positions of the operating shaftlug and the disks mounted thereover.

Figs. l1 and 12 show details of the modified lug.

Figs. 13 and 14 show modified lock disk recesses to fit and operate withthe triple operating shaft lug.-

Fig. 15 is further modified sectional view also similar to Fig. 3,illustrating the application of four lock disks mounted within thehousing chamber.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line lli-i6 of the Fig.15, showing the relative design and position of the operating parts.

Figs. 1'7 and 18 illustrate details of the shaft operating lugapplicable to four lock disks.

Figs. 19 and 20 illustrate the modification of the lock disk recesses asrequired for four disks applied within the housing casing.

In general, my device comprises a cylindrical housing formed withconcentric shaft bearings positioned at opposite ends thereof, eachcarrying a shaft section mounted therein. The cylindrical housing isxedly attached to the end of the driven shaft section, while the drivingshaft is rotatably mounted within the opposite housing bearing and isprovided with engaging operating end lugs for contacting and displacingthe multiple lock disks as are mounted within the housing chamber,capable of locking therewith.

I will now describe more fully the detailed construction of my device,referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

The housing A is preferably'formed of a cylindrical brake ring l and endhousing caps 2 and 3 rigidly mounted on opposite ends thereof bysuitable stud bolts ii. The brake ring l is formed a true cylindricalsection, preferably with hardened and ground inner cylindrical surfacea. Both end housing caps 2 and 3 are likewise turned cylindricalsections formed with shaft recesses b and c, respectively, positionedconcentric with the brake ring axis. The shaft recess b of the end cap 2is 'a bearing unit. and preferably is provided with roller bearings 5,and receives therein the driving shaft unit The opposite shaft recess cof the end cap 3 is fixedly mounted on the end of the driven shaftsection I by means of the keys 8, which are set in the splined grooves din the cap end collar, thus causing the housing A to rotate with thedriven shaft section 'l as an integral part thereof, and as the opposingdriving shaft section l rotates freely within the housing bearing 5. Thedriving shaft 6 is retained in a predetermined position within thehousing bearing by means of an extended end collar e formed thereon.Within the housing brake ring l are rotatably mounted multiple lockdisks 9, oppositely disposed within the cylindrical housing i chamber B.The locking disks 8 are formed of a diameter slightly smaller than theinclosing brake ring surface a, thus allowing a slight sidewisedisplacement therein. One edge f of each lock disk is cut away along anarc less than a semi-circle, forming opposing contact points g onopposite disk edges, designed and positioned to contact the ring surfacea at a predetermined locking angle wheneverrsaid disks were so displacedby an externally applied force. Each disk 9 is provided with anelongated central recess III having one side wall h designed to form acentralizing contact shoulder k, symmetrically posi tioned with andparallel to the opposite disk recess wall m. The collar e of the drivingshaft 8 is provided with a flattened cylindrical turning lug II extendedaximetrically therefrom, and integral therewith, positionedsymmetrically across the collar face. The turning lug II is formed ofthe full collar diameter and of dimensions to fit and engage the lockdisk recesses I0, but allowing a slight displacement thereon, designedto engage the disk recess walls m and k when rotated thereagainst forcentralizing all lock disks to a free turning position within the ring Iwhen so rotated.

It can readily be seen that any rotation of the driving shaft 6, in thedirection as indicated by the arrow n in the Fig. 4, will contact thedisk recess walls m and displace all lock disks 9 to their lockingpositions within the brake ring I as the rotating power is appliedthereto through the driving shaft section Ii, thus uniting the shaftsection 6 with the housing A and conneced driven shaft section 1,transmitting all rotating power therethrough as continuous shaftsection. However, if the rotating force is applied through the drivenshaft section 1, in the same direction, or the shaft section 6 isstopped, the disk recess walls m and opposite parallel centralizingcontact shoulders k will then engage the parallel side walls of the lugII and automatically release all lock disks 9 and centralize same withinthe brake ring I, allowing free turning therein, and free rotation ofthe housing A` and connected driven shaft section 1, independently ofthe driving shaft 6.

The Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a modification of the same couplingextended to include three lock disks 9a, instead of the two oppositelydisposed disks as previously illustrated. The driving shaft lug I labeing likewise formed with a triple lug section .'r, radially positionedabout the axis, one for each lock disk 9a, and the disk central recessesIlla also formed accordingly. Each lug section a: contacts itsrespective disk recess Wall y for sidewise displacement of same, forcingeach lock disk in its locking position with the inclosing brake ringsurface a, as rotating power is applied through the driving shaft 6a.Likewise, the three opposite centralizing contact shoulders z willcontact the operating lug sections :r when the rotating power is appliedthrough the driven shaft section 1a, or when the shaft 6a is slowed orstopped, thusl displacing and readjusting all locking disks 9a to acentralized position within the housing chamber, allowing free rotationtherein and free turning of the driven shaft Ia independently of theshaft 6a. The operating is the same as previously described for the'double disk construction. Both the modified triple lug andcorresponding disk recesses are illustrated in the Figs. 11 to 14 of thedrawings.

The Figs.. 15 .and 16 illustrate a further .moanil driving shaft 6b.

cation of my device, but extended to include four operating lock disks9b, positioned quarterly around the inclosing brake ring I. The drivingshaft operating lug IIb is formed a rectangular centralized projection,symmetrically positioned about the shaft axis, and projected through themultiple lock disk central recesses. The rectangular central d iskrecess I0b is formed'with a centralizing contact shoulder zb at eachcorner, symmetrically positioned about the disk quadrant diameters,designed and positioned to engage the operating lug walls :cb whenrotation is caused by power applied through the driven shaft section 1b,thus releasing and displacing all disks 9b to a central position andfree to rotate within the brake ring surface a, independently of the Oneinner wall yb of the lock disks is slightly recessed to allow lugclearance from the shoulders zb and to provide driving lug contactsurface s, when rotating power is applied through the driving shaftsection 6b. in the direction of the arrow t shown in Fig. 16, thusforcibly displacing all lock disks 9b to their respective lockingpositions within the inclosng ring I, rigidly locking the driving shaft6b with the housing A" and"7 connected driven shaft section lb. Each lugface :rb engages a separate disk recess face and operates the respectivelock disks 9b independently of each other. The application and operatingof the multiplelocking coupling is the same as in the former cases.Figs. 17 to 20 show the details of the operating lug and disk recesses.

Having fully described my disk shaft coupling, what I claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A multiple disk shaft coupling adapted for automatically releasing aconnected shaft section while in motion, comprising a housing formedwith a central cylindrical chamber provided with connected shaftrecesses at opposite ends thereof positioned concentric with the chamberaxis, a driving shaft rotatably mounted through one housing shaftrecess, a driven shaft section flxedlyl` mounted within the oppositehousing shaft recess integral with the housing, a series of uniformlydisposed locking disks capable of engaging with the chamber walls andlocking therewith, rotatably mounted within the housing chamber, saiddisks being provided with shouldered central recesses therethroughforming driving and centralizing means for the respective disks, amultiple sectioned driving lug formed on the inner end of the drivingshaft within the housing chamber, designed to project through themultiple disk recesses and engage the respective shouldered centralrecess walls thereof in a manner for locking same with the housingchamber walls for power rotations in one direction, or releasing thelock disks therefrom and centralizing same for opposite directionalrotations.

2. A multiple disk shaft coupling adapted for automatically releasing aconnected shaft section While in motion comprising a housing formed witha central cylindrical chamber provided with connected shaft recesses atopposite ends thereof, positioned concentric with the chamber axis, adriving shaft section rotatably mounted within one housing shaft recess,a driven shaft section fixedly mounted within the opposite end shaftrecess made integral with the housing section, a series of uniformlydisposed locking disks rotatably mounted within the housing chamber,said disks being of a diameter slightly smaller than the inclosingchamber diameter, and with recessed edges designed to engage and lockwith the chamber walls at a predetermined locking angle, each disk beingformed with a central shouldered recess therethrough providing drivingand centralizing shoulders thereon, a multiple sectioned driving lugformed on the inner end of he driving shaft Within the chamber recess,one lection for each lockin. disk, designed to engage e driving andcentralizing shoulders of the re- -fspective disk recesses as appliedthereto in opposite directions for forcibly locking and disengaging samewith the housing chambel` walls.

`,tacting and locking with the chamber walls at a predetermined lockingangle and provided with a centrally positioned rectangular recesstherethrough forming driving and centralizing shoulders therein, aattened cylindrical section driving lug formed on the inner end of thedriving shaft section positioned to engage both lock disk recesses fordisplacing and forcibly locking said disks with the housing walls forone directional rotation, and releasing and centralizing said diskswithin the housing chamber when the operating disk lug operates in theopposite direction.

4. A multiple disk shaft coupling adapted for automatically releasing aconnected shaft section while in motion comprising a housing formed witha central cylindrical chamber provided with connected shaft recesses atopposite ends thereof, a

driving shaft section rotatably mounted through i one housing end.bearing recess, a driven shaft section xedly mounted within theopposite shaft recess made integral with the housing, three equallydisposed lock disks rotatably mounted within the housing chamber, saiddisks being formed of a diameter slightly smaller than the inclosingchamber, and with a recessed edge designed for disk engagement with thechamber walls at a predetermined locking angle, each disk also beingprovided with tri-sectioned centrally disposed recess therethrough andformed with driving and centralizing shoulders thereon, a triplesectioned operating lug formed on the inner end of the driving shaftsection within the housing chamber, designed to project through therespective lock disk recesses and engage with the driving andcentralizing wall shoulders thereof for displacing and forcibly lockingsaid disks with the chamber walls for one directional rotation of thedriving shaft section, and disengaging and centralizing the disks withinthe housing chamber for the opposite directional rotation of the shaftwithin the housing.

5. A multiple disk shaft coupling adapted for automatically releasing aconnected shaft section While in motion, comprising a housing formedwith a central cylindrical recess provided with connected cylindrical'shaft recesses at opposite ends thereof, a driving shaft sectionrotatably mounted through one housing end bearing, a driven shaftsection iixedly mounted within the opposite end recess made integralwith the housing, four oppositely disposed lock disks rotatably mountedwithin the housing chamber capable of a slight sidewise'displacementtherein, said disks being designed to engage the housing chamber wallsat a, predetermined locking angle and provided with a square centralrecess with partially cut walls forming driving and centralizingshoulders thereon at the respective corners, a square operating lug formon the inner end of the driving shaft section within the chamber recess,positioned symmetrically about the shaft axis and projected through thedisk recesses, designed to engage the respective lock disk centralrecess driving and centralizing shoulders for forcibly displacing thelock disks and locking samewlth the chamber walls for one directionalrotation of the driving shaft section, and disengaging and centralizingsame ,within the housing chamber for the Opposite directional rotation.

SKARDON T. SMITH.

